Kaelen Culpepper
SS | Bats/Throws: R/R | 6' 0" 185LBS | Age: 21
Draft: 2024 | Rd: 1, #21, Minnesota Twins | Kansas State
MLB Pipeline Rank
PA AB R H HR SB AVG OBP SLG OPS
2024 71 62 11 13 1 2 .210 .310 .306 .616
Career Minors 112 99 17 24 3 4 .242 .330 .394 .724
AVG HR SB OPS
2024 .210 1 2 .616
Career Minors .242 3 4 .724

Standard Minor League Batting Statistics

SeasonTmLGLGPAABRH2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSHBPAVGOBPSLGOPS
2024 2 Teams Minors 26 112 99 17 24 4 1 3 12 11 15 4 1 2 .242 .330 .394 .724
2024 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels FSL A 9 41 37 6 11 3 0 2 9 3 2 2 1 1 .297 .366 .541 .907
2024 Cedar Rapids Kernels MID A+ 17 71 62 11 13 1 1 1 3 8 13 2 0 1 .210 .310 .306 .616

Scouting Report

Draft

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50 

Culpepper might go from an unheralded Tennessee high schooler to Kansas State's first-ever first-round position player. Bothered by a hamate injury for much of his sophomore season, he starred at the Big 12 Conference tournament and was the top hitter (.471/.526/.853) on the U.S. collegiate national team during the summer. He moved from third base to shortstop as a junior, batting .474 in the NCAA Tournament (including hitting for the cycle against Louisiana Tech) as the Wildcats reached the Super Regionals.

A right-handed hitter, Culpepper has a disciplined approach that prioritizes making consistent contact and using the entire field. He has well-above-average bat speed and enough strength to produce average power, yet he has a flat swing and rarely drives the ball in the air. He slugged just .318 with wood bats in the Cape Cod League last summer and may top out at 12-15 homers per season. 

Culpepper handled shortstop on the Cape and in fall practice better than scouts expected, though he probably lacks the lateral quickness to play there regularly in the big leagues. He has at least plus arm strength and is a potential Gold Glover at third base, though that position would demand more power production than shortstop. He's an average runner and an opportunistic basestealer. 


2024

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50 

Bothered by a hamate injury for much of his sophomore season, Culpepper starred at the Big 12 Conference tournament and was the top hitter (.471/.526/.853) on the U.S. collegiate national team during the summer. He moved from third base to shortstop as a junior, batting .474 in the NCAA Tournament (including hitting for the cycle against Louisiana Tech) as the Wildcats reached the Super Regionals. He went from an unheralded Tennessee high schooler to Kansas State's first-ever first-round position player when the Twins took him No. 21 overall this July and signed him to a full-slot bonus of $3.93 million.

A right-handed hitter, Culpepper has a disciplined approach that prioritizes making consistent contact and using the entire field. He has well-above-average bat speed and enough strength to produce average power, yet he has a flat swing and rarely drives the ball in the air. He slugged just .318 with wood bats in the Cape Cod League last summer and may top out at 12-15 homers per season. 

Culpepper handled shortstop on the Cape and in fall practice better than scouts expected, though he probably lacks the lateral quickness to play there regularly in the big leagues. He has at least plus arm strength and is a potential Gold Glover at third base, though that position would demand more power production than shortstop. He's an average runner and an opportunistic basestealer.


Transactions

Team Date Transaction
08/19/2024 SS Kaelen Culpepper assigned to Cedar Rapids Kernels from Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
08/19/2024 Cedar Rapids Kernels activated SS Kaelen Culpepper.
08/09/2024 SS Kaelen Culpepper assigned to Fort Myers Mighty Mussels from FCL Twins.
08/05/2024 SS Kaelen Culpepper assigned to FCL Twins.
08/01/2024 Minnesota Twins signed SS Kaelen Culpepper.
06/16/2024 College Workout activated 3B Kaelen Culpepper.
02/02/2024 3B Kaelen Culpepper assigned to Kansas State Wildcats.
06/26/2023 3B Kaelen Culpepper assigned to USAB Stars Team.
06/08/2023 3B Kaelen Culpepper assigned to College Workout.
05/20/2023 3B Kaelen Culpepper assigned to Kansas State Wildcats.
04/01/2022 3B Kaelan Culpepper assigned to Bluefield Ridge Runners.
04/01/2022 Bluefield Ridge Runners activated 3B Kaelen Culpepper.
02/14/2022 3B Kaelen Culpepper and assigned to Kansas State Wildcats.